At any given time, you can just channel surf and see the variety of workout programs that are available - videos, exercise equipment, diet programs. Catching a late night infomercial convinced me to purchase, the FIRM Wave, the Total Body Gym, the Cardio Twister and next on my list...the Malibu Pilates Chair. I can honestly say that none of the purchases have been a waste of time or money.

Here are just some of the DVD choices that may be familiar to you. Each month, I will highlight different products to help you in your search for that "perfect workout" to help you reach your fitness goals.

The FIRM
...need I say more? If you have checked out the Simply the Best... page, you know that I am a FIRM diehard! To find out more about The FIRM program, go to Simply the Best Workout Tapes / DVDs page.

Billy Blanks
Tae bo was founded in 1998 by Billy Blanks, a Taekwondo expert (a Korean martial art). It is an aerobic exercise that uses cardio kickboxing as its platform. Billy Blanks released his first top selling tapes in the 90s, classes started across the country and the memberships exploded. His newest DVD offers are:

Cheryl Burke - Disco Abs
The world was introduced to Cheryl Burke when 'Dancing with the Stars," first debuted in the summer of 2005. She is one of the many talented professional dancers (all with bodies to die for) that transforms actors who are ballroom dancing novices into dancing talents worthy of acknowledgment.

Cheryl is offering a 3 DVD set, "Disco Abs,." that promises to "shed the pounds while you dance your way into shape," with 70s disco music. If a high aerobic dance workout is what you are looking for, this may be a great choice. The videos on the web site appear to be fun and energetic. She offers a Burn Baby Burn Eating Guide, Annual Workout Calendar, and Exclusive 24/7 online access to the Disco Abs Cheryl Burke Club.

P90X
The P90X workout has been receiving quite a bit of airtime lately. Even though I have not had the opportunity to test drive it yet, I have heard very positive feedback from my sister and two close friends. The workout consists of 12 different DVDs, each focusing on a different part of the body. Included are DVDs on yoga and cardio. The program focuses on "muscle confusion' (which I first heard about from the FIRM...sorry...had to go there) by alternating between the various DVDs for quicker results.

The feedback I received was that the program is really effective and you definitely "feel it" and see results. It definitely appears to be worth the purchase.

GAIAM Pilates
Gaiam is a "lifestyle company" that create products that appeal to consumers interested in all aspects of living a healthier life on the planet. Gaiam offers many eco-friendly products across many product lines. Yoga and Pilates is a focus in the Fitness product line and the product offering is excellent. Not only does Gaiam sell the product but the company also educates the consumer. I highly recommend any of GAIAM product.

Please share your stories about DVDs / workouts that you have used. I would love to share them and highlight different programs each month. Thanks for your feedback!